Arlovski shows off one-punch power in WSOF win over Cole

One punch was all it took for Andrei Arlovski to get the World Series of Fighting off and running as the veteran mixed martial artist knocked out Devin Cole less than three minutes into their main event Saturday in front of approximately 5,000 at Planet Hollywood.

It was the initial venture for the WSOF, and Arlovski showed that he still has it at age 33. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champ dropped Cole with a straight right hand and the fight was stopped at 2:37 of the opening round.

"It was important for me to fight well," said Arlovski, who improved to 18-9. "This is a new company and I wanted to help them get off to a good start."

Cole tried to get Arlovski to the ground but Arlovski blocked the single-leg takedown attempt, and as long as Arlovski remained on his feet, Cole was at a disadvantage.

"I didn't panic," Arlovski said. "I was ready for whatever he tried and he's a very good fighter. But I hit him with a good shot."

Cole (20-10) regretted not giving a better effort, particularly since the fight was being televised nationally on NBC Sports Network.

"I felt good. I was ready," Cole said. "But he was better.

"I wanted to pressure him more and I had an opportunity when I picked up his leg. But I got lazy and wasted it and he got me with a good shot."

In the co-main event, Anthony Johnson (15-3) used a vicious right hand to knock out D.J. Linderman at 3:58 of the first round in their light heavyweight bout.

Linderman (14-4) took a kick to the groin in the opening minute and was in considerable pain. He needed a few minutes to recover but eventually got to his feet.

He probably should have stopped there. Johnson landed kicks to the back of Linderman's leg to soften him up, then took him down and proceeded to thrust several shots to the ribs with his knee.

Linderman got up only to go down and out with just over a minute to go, compliments of a big right hand to the face as referee Herb Dean counted him out.

"I could see in his eyes he wasn't there mentally," Johnson said. "But I wasn't going to let up. I'm going to go all-out every second."

Jiu-jitsu specialist Marlon Moraes fought a smart fight in his 135-pound bout and won a three-round split decision over Miguel Torres. Judges Dave Hagen (30-27) and Juni Chiro (29-28) scored it in Moraes' favor, while Mark Smith had Torres winning, 29-28.

Moraes hurt Torres in the first round, landing a solid punch to right side of the head and drawing blood in the process. Torres' corner did a good job closing the wound above his eye, but the former UFC bantamweight never did figure out Moraes.

Torres (25-5) tried everything, but the few times he could get Moraes (9-4) to the mat, he couldn't do much with it.

Moraes' defense, particularly in the third round, was solid and he took Torres down with 45 seconds remaining and kept him on his back.

"He's a tough fighter, but I came strong," Moraes said.

Tyrone Spong had a sensational debut to his MMA career, scoring a first-round knockout of Travis Bartlett.

The kickboxing champion, who fought at 205 pounds Saturday, used his specialty, a right kick to the head, to drop Bartlett early in the opening round. He also showed his boxing skills, using a straight right hand to the side of the head to send Bartlett (7-3) to the mat at 3:45. Bartlett didn't get up and referee Steve Mazagatti stopped it moments later.

The first venture by WSOF brought high praise from the combatants.

"They have something to build on for sure," Cole said. "They treated us well and the setup was great."

Johnson said: "This organization can grow and go anywhere it wants. They're doing it right and I think the MMA fans will give us a chance."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.